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JUST IN: Court Discharges, Acquits Fani-Kayode Of Medical Forgery

Published

9 months ago

February 4, 2025

Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe of an Ikeja Special Offences Court on Tuesday discharged and acquitted the former minister of aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, of the charge of medical forgery leveled against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Justice Abike-Fadipe while delivering ruling on the no case submission filed by Fani-Kayode’s Counsel, Mr Wale Balogun (SAN), held that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case agains the defendant.

Abike-Fadipe said the prosecution failed to establish a link between the defendant and the offences for which he was charged.

She said the prosecution failed establish a prima facie case against the defendant.

She noted that the prosecution also failed to present the defendant’s associates who allegedly collected money from him or the lawlwyer who allegedly stated that the defendant had instructed his law firm to take the medical reports to the Federal High Court.

The court held that the extra-judicial statements which are intended as evidence, cannot be used for any purpose other than to contradict the person who made the statement when he is in the witness box.

“I have carefully studied the evidences of the prosecution witnesses and I can not find where the defendant committed the offences being alleged.

“The prosecution has failed to establish a prima facie case which would require the defendant to open his defense.

“As to the issue of costs, the defendant is at liberty to file an action report and do so in private.”

The judge consequently discharged and acquitted the defendant of the alleged offences.

EFCC had on November 11, 2021 charged Fani-Kayode on a 12-count charge of procuring and execution of documents by false pretences, use of false documents, fabrication of evidence and use of fabricated evidence.

During trial, the prosecution had called seven witnesses to testify against the former minister and closed its case.

Fani-Kayods had on December 7, 2024 filed a no case submission and submitted that the prosecution had failed in establishing the charges against him.

News

JUST IN: Tinubu Reverses Maryam Sanda’s Pardon, Convict To Spend Six Years In Jail

Published

55 minutes ago

October 29, 2025

Editor

After backlash for granting a presidential pardon to Maryam Sanda, sentenced to death in 2020 for the killing of her husband, Bilyaminu Bello, President Bola Tinubu has revoked the pardon and reversed her sentence to 12 years.

This was revealed in an official gazette released by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Wednesday.

According to the gazette, Sanda, who had already spent six years and eight months at the Suleja Medium Security Custodial Centre, got the new approved term on compassionate grounds.

Details later…

News

JUST IN: Tinubu Bows To Pressure, Reviews Pardon For Kidnapping, Drug-related Offences

Published

1 hour ago

October 29, 2025

Editor

President Bola Tinubu has ordered a review of the presidential pardon granted to at least 175 persons at the National Council of State meeting on October 9, 2025, following nationwide outrage over the inclusion of individuals convicted of serious offences.

In a statement on Wednesday, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said, “Consequently, certain persons convicted of serious crimes such as kidnapping, drug-related offences, human trafficking, fraud, unlawful possession of firearms/arms dealing, etc., were deleted from the list.”

Onanuga added, “Others who had been hitherto pardoned in the old list had their sentences commuted.”

Details shortly…

News

JUST IN: Senate Clears Oluyede As Chief Of Defence Staff

Published

2 hours ago

October 29, 2025

Editor

The Senate on Wednesday confirmed Chief of Defence Staff-designate, General Olufemi Oluyede, as it began the screening of the newly appointed service chiefs at the National Assembly complex in Abuja.

Oluyede was confirmed barely an hour after he and other nominees arrived at the complex amid tight security.

Welcoming the nominees to the chamber, Senate President Godswill Akpabio described the screening as a constitutional duty aimed at ensuring that only the most competent and patriotic officers are entrusted with safeguarding the nation.

Akpabio said, “Distinguished colleagues, it is with great pleasure that I welcome our newly appointed Service Chiefs to the hallowed chamber of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

On behalf of the entire Senate, “I congratulate you on your well-deserved appointments and commend you for the years of dedicated service you have rendered to our great nation.”

He further explained that the exercise was part of the Senate’s oversight responsibility to guarantee discipline and professionalism within the armed forces, adding that the chamber looked forward to a constructive interaction that would strengthen Nigeria’s security system.

The Senate President added, “Today’s exercise is in keeping with our constitutional duty to provide oversight and ensure that only the most competent, patriotic, and disciplined officers are entrusted with the task of safeguarding our national security and territorial integrity.”

Leading the delegation, Oluyede arrived at the National Assembly complex around 10 a.m. alongside other senior officers. The nominees are being screened by the Committee of the Whole, chaired by Akpabio, before formal confirmation.

Their appearance follows a letter from President Tinubu, which was read during Tuesday’s plenary, urging the Red Chamber to give “expeditious consideration” to the nominations.

The President listed the nominees as General Olufemi Oluyede (Chief of Defence Staff), Major General Waheedi Shaibu (Chief of Army Staff), Rear Admiral Idi Abbas (Chief of Naval Staff), Air Vice Marshal Kennedy Aneke (Chief of Air Staff), and Major General Emmanuel Undiendeye (Chief of Defence Intelligence).

The screening comes just a week after Tinubu held a closed-door meeting with the new service chiefs at the Presidential Villa — his first official engagement with the military hierarchy following last week’s sweeping shake-up in the armed forces.

According to the Presidency, the appointments form part of the administration’s broader efforts to strengthen the national security architecture and improve coordination among the military and intelligence agencies.

Tinubu had also lauded the outgoing service chiefs for their “patriotic service and leadership” and urged their successors to justify the confidence reposed in them by upholding professionalism, unity, and vigilance within the Armed Forces.